City reminds of extended school zone times

August 06, 2012

NEW ORLEANS, LA— Today, the City of New Orleans issued a reminder that it is extending school zone times in effort to provide further protection for students traveling to or from school. The new times will be extended from 7:30-8:45am to 7-9am and from 2:30-3:45pm to 2:45-4:45pm. The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works is currently changing signs to reflect these new times. Traffic tickets and traffic-camera tickets will only be issued if the school zone signs and beacons have been updated to reflect the new times.

Deputy Mayor of Facilities, Infrastructure and Community Development Cedric Grant said, “Protecting our school children as they arrive and depart from school is paramount. The fact is that students are arriving earlier and staying later at school. This change in school zone times will create a safer environment for students, parents, and the general public.”

Since Hurricane Katrina, Orleans Parish schools have extended their hours and many either start or end before or after the current school zones are active. With this change in school zone times, nearly 95% of schools will convene and dismiss during the new school zone times. Changing school zone times was a key recommendation from the Mayor’s Transition Task Force on Education to better align student arrivals and departures.

Last month, school officials endorsed the time change when the ordinance was approved by the New Orleans City Council.

Stan Smith, Acting Superintendent of the Orleans Parish School Board said, “This change makes a lot of sense and has been requested by many different school leaders and parents. Simply put, the old school zone times no longer reflect when students are coming and going from schools. Now almost every school starts earlier and goes later. This change in school zone times reflects this reality.”

Patrick Dobard, Superintendent of the Recovery School District said, "As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we welcome this change and applaud the New Orleans City Council for adopting this ordinance that addresses the safety of students. The change will make after-school travel safer for our students and will better reflect the start and end of the school day for many of our schools."